Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman Al-Azmi رحمه الله
In the case of accidental killing (qatl khaṭāʾ), the required expiation is fasting for two consecutive months.
If the person lacks the physical ability to fast, then nothing further is required of him. This ruling is based on the following Qur’anic principles:
﴿فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ﴾
[At-Taghābun: 16]
"So fear Allah as much as you are able."
﴿لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا﴾
[Al-Baqarah: 286]
"Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity."
Among the scholars, it is an established legal maxim:
"لَا وَاجِبَ مَعَ الْعَجْز"
“There is no obligation upon one who is unable.”
Therefore:
Unlike in ẓihār (a specific type of forbidden marital statement) where three levels are mentioned:
Thus, in the case of accidental killing, if one cannot fast, no third option (like feeding the poor) is mentioned.
[Ibn ʿUthaymīn: Nūr ʿala al-Darb: 27]
❖ Accidental Killing and Its Expiation (Kaffārah)
In the case of accidental killing (qatl khaṭāʾ), the required expiation is fasting for two consecutive months.
- The individual must not break the fast at any point during these two months without a valid Sharʿī excuse.
- If even one fast is missed without a valid excuse, then it becomes obligatory to restart the entire two-month fast, because Allah ﷻ has explicitly required continuity in this form of expiation.
✔ What If One Is Unable to Fast?
If the person lacks the physical ability to fast, then nothing further is required of him. This ruling is based on the following Qur’anic principles:
﴿فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ﴾
[At-Taghābun: 16]
"So fear Allah as much as you are able."
﴿لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا﴾
[Al-Baqarah: 286]
"Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity."
Legal Principle from Islamic Jurisprudence
Among the scholars, it is an established legal maxim:
"لَا وَاجِبَ مَعَ الْعَجْز"
“There is no obligation upon one who is unable.”
Therefore:
- If someone is incapable of fasting, no further obligation remains on him.
- This is because, in the matter of expiation for accidental killing, Allah ﷻ has only prescribed two levels:
① Freeing a slave
② Fasting two consecutive months
Unlike in ẓihār (a specific type of forbidden marital statement) where three levels are mentioned:
- Freeing a slave
- If not possible, then fasting two consecutive months
- If fasting is not possible, then feeding sixty needy people
Thus, in the case of accidental killing, if one cannot fast, no third option (like feeding the poor) is mentioned.
[Ibn ʿUthaymīn: Nūr ʿala al-Darb: 27]
